Conveniently located in the Fort, with huge variety of handicrafts including carvings, batiks, statues, etc. One of few places to have simple fridge magnets et al.
As Government-run prices are fixed, which in Sri Lanka ensures you get a fair price.
Other stores outside such as in Pettah require bartering with often the intention that you don't receive a fair price irrespective of the quality.
This is a great, cetral place to find any maner of local handicraft. Its housed in a large, historical building in the Fort area. If travelling by vehicle, finding parking is a bit diffucult but there are paid areas close by if you look. There are plenty of three-wheelers right outside the entrance.
The pricing is fixed and very reasonable. There is an excellent jewellery area with beautiful pieces. There is LOTS of selection and you can find just about anything there (batik, musical instruments, masks, murals, brassware, leathergoods, hats etc)
Save some extra time for the cashier area though -- the service is lovely but they wrap your purchases with painstaking detail and slowness. When you're used to a quick pay-and-go experience at home its a bit of a change of pace.
A must to visit if you are looking for Sri Lankan handicraft. You get variety at a reasonable rate. Prices are fixed and its government run so chances are low of being cheated or buying over priced items.
A list of branches can be found on the following link,
http://www.laksala.lk/english/retail_outlets/retail_outlets.asp
The biggest outlet is down york Street but getting there might be a problem with the new security situation. If your in Colombo the easiest place to visit would be their branch at Colombo 4 (Bambalapitiya) a small branch but the staff are very helpful and friendly.
Laksala Address -
No 60, York Street (Fort)
Colombo
This is a great place if you want to buy things for your house/flat etc (decorations). It is also good for those last miute presents for your friends back home - to give them a taste of SL.
I shall post more info as I get it.
I will also post the opeing times, if I can find this out.
Hope this helps
:)
In the last few days of my trip to Sri Lanka (2003) (and having bought my carrom board and carried it from Hikkaduwa) I decided that Kandyan masks were a necessary purchase. (Even though I had visited Kandy)
Laksala is a 3 storey emporium of handicrafts sitiuated in downown Colombo - We were treating ourselves to a last night in Galle Face Green so our tuk tuk ride was about 150 rupees.
The benefit of Laksala is that all the handicrafts you have seen across SL but were too afraid to haggle/carry are there. Since it is state run there is the usual difficulty of selecting the object and then going to another desk to pay but it is also supposed to ensure a fair payment to the craftspeople that produce the items - not something you can be sure of when buying in the street.
Laksala does have much wider range of higher quality gifts that you won't see in the rest of the country.
Don't miss out on the experience of haggling during your trip but if you need to spend the last of your rupees and want a few more memories of one of the greatest countries in the world then it is well worth a visit!
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